Usually when old cinema complexes close in Central Florida, they stay closed. This has happened with a lot of the General Cinema screens, the Altamonte 8, AMC Fashion Village, and others. So when the Muvico Pointe Orlando 21 suddenly shut its doors a number of weeks ago (or was it months?), I certainly had no idea what its fate would be.
Years ago it was quite a nice multiplex, anchoring a shopping and dining area that also boasted Orlando's only FAO Schwartz store (which of course my kids loved to browse in before a movie). The theater also housed Orlando's only genuine IMAX facility, including the largest movie screen in Central Florida. Even after the IMAX equipment had been removed, they continued to show blockbusters on the big screen and promote it as such. I never bothered to make the trip down to I-Drive and check out one of these studio new releases on the huge screen, and I guess I wasn't the only one--I started noticing theater ads promoting new, discounted prices for first run movies ($6 I think), a sure sign of desperation. A few weeks after that Muvico Pointe Orlando was no longer being listed in the newspaper time clock, and just like that they were gone.
But judging from print ads that have been appearing in the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Weekly recently, Regal Cinemas has apparently bought the property and is preparing to reopen the complex as the "Pointe Orlando Stadium 20 + IMAX" on May 4. That's good news, especially if they bring the IMAX equipment back and actually show new IMAX films and not just blown-up Hollywood movies on the monster screen. It's been years since IMAX had an outlet for their productions in Orlando, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who will welcome their return. Now let's see what happens...
--Matthew
Eagle-eyed Enzian Director of Marketing and Development, Shannon Lacek, was giddy for Diddy today as she quizzed me on whether or not I caught a particular supporting turn from one of our favorite Florida Film Festival characters on Monday's new episode of "Heroes." I knew the Asian messenger picking up the artwork in soon-to-be-doomed-Isaac Mendez' studio looked familiar, but Shan nailed it--none other than the air guitarist extraordinaire himself, the honorable "C. Diddy" (actor David S. Jung), was featured in ".07%," the latest chapter of one of the coolest things on TV.
It's probably not a recurring role, but fear not C. Diddy fans in the Orlando area. You can see a whole lot more of David's work in the gloriously entertaining doc feature, AIR GUITAR NATION, returning to Enzian on May 4 for a one -week theatrical run following its triumphant closing day screening at the Florida Film Festival a few weeks ago. Now we'll have to check on any upcoming network roles for bitter C. Diddy rival, Bjorn Turoque...
--Matthew
It was a painful thing to watch if you were a Yankee fan (or a Twins fan who roots for NY also). Going into the weekend with such high hopes, the first 3 of 18 games in the best rivalry in baseball . A-Rod playing out of his mind, putting up numbers in the month of April never before seen in the American League and rarely approached in NL history. He then homers twice in the opening game of the series at Fenway, but the vaunted bullpen blows it, including a total meltdown by an ineffective Mariano Rivera (I thought he wasn't coming in before the 9th inning this year!)
In fact, the Yankees blew leads in every game this weekend, and the pitching staff is a complete mess. If you missed it, Chase Wright (who?)--the rookie who started on Sunday against the Red Sox--gave up 4 (count 'em, 4!) consecutive solo homers in the third inning (back to back to back to back jacks!), only the second time in baseball history that's been accomplished. Ironically, the last time it was done, the father of Boston's current Manager, Terry Francona, was one of the hitters to do it. Yet even after that outburst of power (or bad pitching, take your pick), NY tied it up and went ahead again but to no avail.
Even with an All-Star at virtually every position and a $200 million dollar payroll, the Yankees pitching staff is just way too old and injury prone or too young and inexperienced to not put a ridiculous strain on the relief staff. I know it's only April, and A-Rod may end up with the greatest offensive stats ever, but this team is in genuine danger of losing the division title to the Red Sox (and their vastly superior starting pitching) for the first time in a decade. Who says you shouldn't push the panic button in the first 4 weeks of the season?
--Matthew
This Sunday, April 22 at 12:30 PM, Enzian Theater and the Bach Festival Society present a rare 35mm showing of a true masterpiece of Russian cinema--Sergei Eisenstein's ALEXANDER NEVSKY (1938). The POTEMKIN director's first sound film, NEVSKY is a grand epic that tells the story of a peasant army under the guidance of Prince Nevsky that defended Russia against the invading Teutonic Knights (Germany) in the year 1242. The final battle sequence on the frozen surface of Lake Peipus is now legendary, as is the use of an evocative and stirring Prokofiev score instead of natural sound.
Reportedly a major inspiration for George Lucas in creating certain elements of the Star Wars saga (check out the evil guy in the black robe for instance!), ALEXANDER NEVSKY also has disturbing parallels to the Soviets' situation on the cusp of World War II at the time of production.
The screening is free for Enzian Film Society and Bach Festival Society members, and normal matinee price ($6) for general public. The Bach Festival will also be presenting a concert of Prokofiev's works--including highlights from NEVSKY's musical score--next weekend in its Russian Choral Masterworks program. A perfect one-two punch for Prokofiev fans and classic film lovers.
--Matthew
Yes, in the immortal words of Barry Manilow, the Orlando Magic (this burg's only pro sports franchise need I remind you) will finally return to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Granted, it took a monumental freefall by the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks to propel the 4-games-under-500 Magic into the 8th and final playoff spot, but to give them a little credit, they have won four out of the last five games. But it was the clincher a couple of nights ago against the lowly Boston Celtics that was so typical and could make even the casual viewer pull the hair out of their head.
Avoiding a historical collapse of monumental proportions, the team held on for dear life to win 88-86. What you wouldn't know from that final score was that the Magic had a 19 point lead at home at the beginning of the 4th quarter, with a playoff spot on the line. They then proceeded to commit 10 turnovers in one quarter, which sadly was as many points as they were able to muster for the rest of the game. They actually failed to score a single basket the final 6:44 of the game. Hell, it looked like they could barely stay upright as players kept falling down as they committed turnover after turnover. Easily the most painful and least joyous playoff or series clincher I've ever watched.
Yet, here they are. Young, inept, inconsistent (to put it mildly), and probably just not talented enough to make any noise at all in the post-season. But if they can win their final two games and the Wizards lose their last two, the Magic will actually end up in the 7th spot and avoid the Pistons in the opening round. That would put them up against either the Bulls or the Cavaliers in the best of seven, and you gotta like those odds a bit more than going up against a veteran Detroit team that swept them (4-0) this year during the regular season.
So go ahead boys. Get that all important first taste of playoff experience. Nobody's expecting you to have any success at all (why would they?), so you can play loose and maybe surprise us...or maybe not. I'll be watching (and suffering) like always--good luck!
--Matthew
Despite being dark for four days immediately following the completion of another banner year for the Florida Film Festival, once Friday hits it's business as usual. That would include the exclusive Orlando engagement of the amazing Korean creature-feature, THE HOST (God, I love it that Enzian has a monster movie on screen!), and the April edition of our monthly Florida shorts showcase, FilmSlam.
Last weekend's collection had a bit of a nightmarish theme going amongst the half dozen selections, and the Audience Award winner for FilmSlam # 4 was Todd Thompson's MR. BUBBS. Honorable mentions went out to Brian Haynes' POPSY and Felix Ortiz' A MENTAL JOURNEY. Congratulations to all the filmmakers, and keep those entries coming.
The next FilmSlam (# 5) is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, May 13, at 1:00 PM, which is the second Sunday of the month like always (submissions are due by the 1st of the month). So come on out and support your local filmmaking community.
--Matthew
Headed out to the multiplex recently with my family to catch the latest Disney Digital 3-D offering, MEET THE ROBINSONS, and was surprised by a couple of things. First the bad: AMC is charging an extra $2 to see the 3-D version, though the box office person didn't say it was specifically for the glasses. My question is this--if it's to cover the cost of the glasses and you go back to see it a second time with your original pair in tow, do they still hit you up for the surcharge? Considering the multiplex mentality, I bet that's the case but I may have to put it to the test. Or at least give my glasses to someone in the office like Ferraro who plans to see it. And I don't remember paying extra when I saw the superior MONSTER HOUSE in Digital 3-D last year--did anyone have to pay more for that one?
The pleasant surprise was the short that preceded MEET THE ROBINSONS, a 1953 "Stereoscopic" Donald Duck cartoon called "Working for Peanuts" that was originally produced in 3-D. Unseen in theaters for years (unless you happened to catch it at Disney World), the story features Donald as a zookeeper taking care of Dolores the Elephant. Much to his chagrin, there are a pair of mischievous chipmunks trying to steal Dolores' supply of peanuts, and these two critters turn out to be none other than Chip 'n' Dale! Apparently these two didn't get equal billing with other Disney heavyweights, but Donald is a supporting player in his own cartoon. I originally thought this may have been their very first appearance in a Disney short, but it turns out they were actually first named in another Donald Duck cartoon ("Chip an' Dale") from 1947 that was Oscar-nominated. Gee, six years later and still no star billing.
"Working for Peanuts" is only playing with the 3-D version of MEET THE ROBINSONS, so you may have to seek it out. Otherwise you'll be seeing something called "Boat Builders" with the flat version. And as far as the main attraction goes--fun animation, so-so story with echoes of both TOY STORY and JIMMY NEUTRON, certainly worthy if you love gimmicks, but no MONSTER HOUSE by a long shot. Oh, and that's the voice of Adam West, not Patrick Warburton--good voice casting! Grab a kid if it makes you more comfortable and check it out while you can. Then drop the kid off and come see THE HOST at Enzian for some real jaw-dropping special effects and fantastic entertainment.
--Matthew
I would be remiss in my duties as a long-time Gator fan and Florida resident with family in Gainesville if I failed to at least throw a shout-out to the University of Florida men's basketball team for their incredible achievement earlier this week. Back-to-back NCAA titles for the first time since Duke did it in 1991-92. One of only three schools in the last 45 years (along with the Blue Devils and the legendary UCLA Bruins teams with Alcindor and Walton) to win back-to-back national championships. The first team ever to repeat with the same five starters. The first school ever to have three major collegiate championships (2 basketball, 1 football) within a 12 month period--truly amazing! And the fact that two of those victories were against the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes is especially sweet.
Billy Donovan, the only head coach in the state of Florida to ever win an NCAA championship in basketball, did it again. And he topped it off by telling the University of Kentucky to take a hike and continue their coaching search elsewhere--he's happy where he is and is staying in Gainesville to face new challenges (and they'll be plenty with his top six players gone) and add to his legacy.
The four juniors--Horford, Noah, Brewer, and Green--we knew would be heading to the NBA after the tournament ended. The fact that they even came back to try and repeat and enjoy another year together of collegiate life and athletics was remarkable in itself, and it's so nice that it paid off. The first three will all be lottery picks in the NBA draft, perhaps even in the top 10, while Taurean Green has a chance of going in the mid-to-late second round. Whatever happens in their professional careers, it's been a helluva ride, the likes of which may never be duplicated in college sports anywhere, let alone in the sunshine state.
Just a little bit of pressure on the Gators baseball coach and incoming women's basketball coach, don't you think?
--Matthew
Back from the depths of festival insanity and finally coming up for air. Thanks to all those filmmakers, moviegoers, special guests, jurors, panelists, industry types and cinema lovers who helped make our 16th edition the best, most fun, and most memorable one yet! In case you didn't catch it in our illustrious daily metropolitan newspaper (I haven't seen anything yet, have you?) or on-line, here's our distinguished list of winners for 2007:
Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature: BLACK IRISH, directed by Brad Gann
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature: BLACK IRISH, directed by Brad Gann
Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature: KNEE DEEP, directed by Michael Chandler
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature: UNSETTLED, directed by Adam Hootnick
Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short: THE CARESS OF THE CREATURE, directed by Stewart McAlpine
Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short: THE TRIBE, directed by Tiffany Shlain
Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short: EVERYTHING WILL BE OK, directed by Don Hertzfeldt
Audience Award for Best Short Film: TALES OF MERE EXISTENCE, directed by Lev Yilmaz
Special Jury Award for Best Actress: Meagan Moses of PRETTY IN THE FACE, directed by Nate Meyer
Special Jury Award for Innovative Documentary Storytelling: OPERATION HOMECOMING, directed by Richard E. Robbins
Special Jury Award for Best Female Role Model: BITCH, directed by Lilah Vandenburgh
Audience Award for Best International Feature: IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON (UK), directed by David Sington
Audience Award for Best International Short: HIGH MAINTENANCE (Germany), directed by Phillip Van
Congratulations to all the filmmakers. We are honored to present your work and look forward to future projects.
--Matthew
